India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has publicly backed Jasprit Bumrah as the premier bowler's workload management continues to take center stage in conversations. When the team management determined that Bumrah would only play in three of the five Test matches before the 2025 Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy match against England, it instantly caused a lot of controversy among cricket fans and former players.
Speaking on the Talk with Manvendra podcast, Bhuvneshwar provided a strong defense of the ruling, highlighting the strain fast bowlers face both mentally and physically.
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"Look, considering how many years Jasprit Bumrah has been playing and competing in all formats, it is tough for anyone to sustain that. And with the kind of bowling action Bumrah has, injuries can happen to him or to anyone," he said.
Bhuvneshwar went on to say that a player's influence is not always diminished by playing fewer games.
"I had no problem with him playing three out of five matches. If the selectors know what he can offer and are okay with it, it’s because they know he can still make a big impact in those three games. If a player might not play all five matches but will contribute significantly in three, that should be okay," he explained.
As India's most valuable player in all formats, Bumrah understandably bears the weight of expectations from both the team's management and supporters. Bhuvneshwar also went into great detail regarding the same topic.
"People don’t always understand how tough it is to keep playing for so many years across formats. Bumrah is always bowling in tough situations, which brings both mental and physical pressure. If you want a player to have a long career, you have to manage them somehow," stated the Indian fast bowler, who spent several years in the same dressing room as Bumrah when the latter was just starting out in international cricket.
Bumrah's ability to have a significant impact even when intentionally rested paid off, as he took 14 wickets in his three games against England, including two five-wicket hauls.
Bhuvneshwar remarked on Bumrah's transformation from a bright youngster to India's top pacer: “When he first came in, everyone could see there was something special. Skill-wise, nothing has changed — he was as good back then as he is now. But with years of performance comes confidence. Once you are established, you don’t panic if things go wrong. That maturity comes with age.”
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